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2015 Ford Expedition Offers New Technology, EcoBoost Powertrain

The Ford Expedition, Ford's entry in the full-size SUV market, is getting a full makeover for 2015. The new truck rolled out ahead of the 2014 DFW Auto Show at the Dallas Convention Center. According to Ford, the new Expedition will offer a level of luxury rarely seen in a vehicle of this type. Innovations for 2015 include more advanced technology, a smaller but more powerful and efficient engine, and a Platinum trim level, already available on Ford's F-Series pickup trucks.

New technological features on the 2015 Ford Expedition will include a 3.5-liter, direct-injection, twin-turbocharged EcoBoost engine, which has already been introduced to the F-Series. According to Ford, this engine is designed to deliver an Expedition that's more powerful and fuel-efficient than any of its predecessors. The new Expedition will also include a blind-spot information system with cross-traffic alert, electric power-assisted steering, Sync with MyFord Touch, and available suspension damping to improve passenger comfort.

The 8-passenger Expedition, which entered the market in 1996, is Ford's largest utility vehicle. The 119-in. wheelbase version offers 108.3 cu. ft. of cargo space at maximum configuration. The longer Expedition EL version features a 131-in. wheelbase, with maximum cargo space of 130.8 cu. ft. The new Expedition also features an independent rear suspension for improved ride and handling, according to Ford.

The new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine replaces the 5.4-liter V-8 engine that the Expedition currently employs. It will be the only engine available with the Expedition in North America. This direct-injection, twin-turbocharged system is designed for improved power and torque (even at low engine speeds) and greater fuel efficiency. The new Expedition will also feature a 6-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with a manual mode that allows the driver to select the desired gear using a shift-mounted rocker switch.

The 2015 Expedition will also feature continuously controlled damping, which means that the vehicle will offer three selectable drive modes: comfort, normal, and sport. Ford says that the power-assisted steering provides greater maneuverability at low speeds and improves the high-speed feel, and it's also conducive to greater fuel efficiency.

Along with the technology upgrades, the 2015 Expedition will include a redesigned interior, the showpiece of which is a new center stack that includes an 8-in. touch screen for Sync with MyFord Touch. The driver information cluster features two full-color 4.2-in. LCD screens. Also included are a 10-speaker, 700-watt Sony audio system; Intelligent Access with push-button start; rearview camera; 7-color, interior ambient LED lighting; and Ford truck apps to facilitate trailer towing and off-road driving.

The 2015 Expedition will be available in four trim levels: XLT, Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum. The Platinum trim level features luxurious leather seating in wine or black with fashionable accents. The vehicle's exterior also gets a fresh, modernized look, including available 22-in. wheels.

The introduction of the retooled 2015 Ford Expedition means good news for the economy, too. Ford recently confirmed plans to add workers, and begin an $80 million facility upgrade at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, where Ford Expeditions (and Ford's Super Duty pickup trucks) are manufactured.